Fiber optic connector having lens

Abstract

A fiber optic connector comprises a resilient ferrule member having a lens at a forward end which communicates with an internal bore in which a fiber optic transmission member is disposed with the end of the fiber optic transmission member being located substantially at the focal point of the lens. An index-matching material is located in the bore of the ferrule member to protect the fiber optic transmission member.

We claim: 
     
       1. A fiber optic connector for terminating a fiber optic transmission means, comprising: ferrule means of resilient plastic material having forward section means and rear section means, said forward section means and said rear section means having profiled bore means extending axially therealong, along which a fiber optic transmission means is to extend, said bore means having a first bore section means larger in diameter than the diameter of said fiber optic transmission means, and a lens-receiving bore means extending axially along said forward section means; and   lens means secured within said lens-receiving bore means in said forward section means, said lens means including a rear section having a stepped bore means extending axially and partially along therethrough ending in an inner surface located at the focal point of said lens means and at which the end of said fiber optic transmission means is located when positioned within said stepped bore means.   
     
     
       2. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said stepped bore means of said lens means terminating at said inner surface is only slightly larger in diameter than said diameter of said fiber optic transmission means. 
     
     
       3. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stepped bore means in said lens means has an inner end terminating at said inner surface which inner end is only slightly larger in diameter than said diameter of said fiber optic transmission means, and further having an outer part larger in diameter than said inner end, and a beveled surface interconnects said outer part and said inner end. 
     
     
       4. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inner surface of said stepped bore means of said lens means is axially normal thereto and includes a beveled surface extending between said inner surface and said stepped bore means. 
     
     
       5. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lens means has an aspherical lens section surrounded by an annular section. 
     
     
       6. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 5 wherein said annular section extends farther forward than any portion of said aspherical lens section. 
     
     
       7. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein an outer end of said fiber optic transmission means is secured to a photoactive member of an optical electronic device which is secured in said first bore section of said ferrule means. 
     
     
       8. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ferrule means includes a cylindrical section into which an end of a fiber optic cable including said fiber optic transmission means is positioned and a crimping ferrule is crimpable onto said cylindrical section thereby securing said fiber optic cable end therein. 
     
     
       9. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein index-matching material is located in said profiled bore means. 
     
     
       10. A fiber optic connector for terminating a fiber optic transmission means, comprising: ferrule means of resilient plastic material having forward section means and rear section means, said forward section means and said rear section means having profiled bore means extending axially therealong, along which a fiber optic transmission means is to extend, said bore means having a first bore section means larger in diameter than the diameter of said fiber optic transmission means and having a lens-receiving bore means extending axially along said forward section means, and further having communicatingly therebetween a second bore section means only slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of said fiber optic transmission means; and   lens means secured within said lens-receiving bore means in said forward section means such that an end of said fiber optic transmission means is located at the focal point of said lens means when positioned within said profiled bore means of said ferrule means.   
     
     
       11. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 10 wherein said lens means is a graded index lens having a sapphire, ceramic or the like material secured to an inner surface of said lens, said sapphire, ceramic or the like material having a central opening into which said end of said fiber optic transmission means is to be positioned. 
     
     
       12. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 10 wherein said lens means is a graded index lens and said second bore section means is a precision bore, the axis of which is accurately coincident with the axis of said graded index lens. 
     
     
       13. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 10 wherein said lens means does not extend forward of said forward section means of said ferrule means. 
     
     
       14. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 10 wherein index-matching material is located in said profiled bore means. 
     
     
       15. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 10 wherein an outer end of said fiber transmission means is secured to a photoactive member of an optical electronic device which is secured in said first bore section means of said ferrule means. 
     
     
       16. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 10 wherein said ferrule means includes a cylindrical section into which an end of a fiber optic cable including said fiber optic transmission means is positioned and a crimping ferrule is crimpable onto said cylindrical section thereby securing said fiber optic cable end therein. 
     
     
       17. A fiber optic connector for terminating a fiber optic transmission means, comprising a ferrule means of resilient plastic material having forward section means and rear section means, said rear section means having profiled bore means extending axially therealong, along which a fiber optic transmission means is to extend, said bore means having a first bore section means larger in diameter than the diameter of said fiber optic transmission means, said forward section means having a stepped bore means extending axially and partially therethrough ending in an inner surface at which the end of said fiber optic transmission means is located when positioned within said stepped bore means, said forward section means including a lens means, with said inner surface of said stepped bore means being located at the focal point of said lens means, and said lens means has an aspherical lens section surrounded by an annular section. stepped bore means being located at the focal point of said lens means. 
     
     
       18. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 17 wherein said lens means is integral with said ferrule means. 
     
     
       19. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 17 wherein at least a portion of said stepped bore means of said forward section means terminating at said inner surface is only slightly larger in diameter than said diameter of said fiber optic transmission means. 
     
     
       20. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 17 wherein said stepped bore means in said forward section means has an inner end terminating at said inner surface which inner end is only slightly larger in diameter than said diameter of said fiber optic transmission means, and further having an outer part larger in diameter than said inner end, and a beveled surface interconnects said outer part and said inner end. 
     
     
       21. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 17 wherein said inner surface of said stepped bore means of said forward section means is axially normal thereto and includes a beveled surface extending between said inner surface and said stepped bore means. 
     
     
       22. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 17 wherein said annular section extends farther forward than any portion of said aspherical lens section. 
     
     
       23. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 17 wherein an outer end of said fiber optic transmission means is secured to a photoactive member of an optical electronic device which is secured in said first bore section means of said ferrule means. 
     
     
       24. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 17 wherein said ferrule means includes a cylindrical section into which an end of a fiber optic cable including said fiber optic transmission means is positioned and a crimping ferrule is crimpable onto said cylindrical section thereby securing said fiber optic cable end therein. 
     
     
       25. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 17 wherein index-matching material is located in said profiled bore means.